The Daily Mail has a story up about how anti-poverty advocates have started worrying about the effects of coming federal budget cuts on the ways we work with the poor in our local communities. The piece quotes Denise Harlow, head of the New York State Community Action Association, and Florence Ohle, executive director of Community Action of Greene County, noting huge impacts ahead, with Greene County losing $277,000 in block-grant money currently supporting local domestic violence and weatherization assistance programs, as well as the handing out of auto loans to those with bad credit. It also uses the money to provide low-income individuals and families with free assistance in filing their tax returns. In response to the president’s proposal, Community Action agencies are circulating an online petition that urges Obama to reconsider his proposal, the directors noted, with over 8,000 people having signed to date. Meanwhile, among the $60 billion in cuts proposed by House Republicans is an even deeper slashing of block grant programs.